Liam Lawson slams Carlos Sainz over Mexico GP crash that “killed” his race

Liam Lawson has slammed Carlos Sainz’s driving after a collision greatly damaged both their cars at the start of Formula 1’s Mexico Grand Prix.

The incident happened in Turn 1, after Fernando Alonso tapped the rear of Esteban Ocon’s car. Sainz swerved left to avoid the slow Haas, but that swerve meant he drove into Lawson’s Racing Bulls.

While Sainz lamented damage on his tyre and rim and ended up spinning out of the race late on, Lawson swiftly retired his crippled car.

“A lot of guys were sliding in Turn 1, but I left plenty of space next to Carlos, and I think he's decided to cut the chicane,” the New Zealander said after the race. “But he hasn't looked left, and I'm right there, he's driving into me.

“It's something that just sucks. I think you've got to have more awareness, honestly. It's destroyed the side of my car, and I had to retire.”

Asked whether he would bring it up with Sainz, Lawson replied: “I mean, there’s not really much I can say.

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Photo by: James Sutton / LAT Images via Getty Images

“I'm not saying he's done it intentionally. I'm sure he's not intentionally driven into me, but it's just one of those things.

“I mean, I completely understand it's Turn 1 on the first lap, it's chaotic, but we're all trying to be aware of what's going on, and you can't just decide to cut the chicane without looking to your left, because he's hit me so hard that it's just destroyed the whole side of the floor, broke my front wing, and just killed our race – we were three seconds a lap off after that.”

Meanwhile, Sainz recapped the incident in a very neutral manner, stopping short of either blaming anyone or shouldering responsibility.

“I think we were three or four into [Turn] 1 and there was a big melee. We were three or four cars side by side, like always in Mexico, a tricky one,” the Williams driver simply said.

The collision contributed to Racing Bulls’ third consecutive point-less race, which means its advantage over Aston Martin, Haas and Sauber in the constructors’ championship is down to three, 10 and 12 points respectively, in what is now a four-way battle for sixth.